A Debt

[Alwine Daye]

"And how do you know that whatever it is you believe she put in place in case things go wrong will work?" she asked the Jedi, "you describe a broken person. Broken people are prone to making more mistakes than intended. For all we know things could have already gone wrong but we have no way to know about it."

Alwine sighed. There were too many variables to keep in mind, too many things to think of. When she looked at the Jedi she saw a man who obviously cared, but the demon-twin had cared too. Could they both be seeing things in a cloudy manner, their vision obstructed by their care?

Ignoring her last words, she resumed her questioning. She was certain that the Jedi knew more than he let on, was sure that he could provide much more help. But she also understood that to him, she was a stranger, and the sister of the man he saw responsible for Scherezade's condition.

"Is the spell working as she had intended it to?" she asked, "was this what she had planned? To see my brother as a beacon upon the Force, but to walk through the Confederacy as though she had always belonged there? Why even remain with the Confederacy if you pull such a spell upon yourself and not go somewhere new where no one knew Scherezade?"

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I am aware of this" He spoke calmly, yet firmly as he stared into her eyes. "You don't think I don't worry about these things myself? All you're telling me are the same damn things I've been telling myself for months. But there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. Odds are, I'm going to do more harm than good if I try. And trust me, I've done that with Scherezade once already. I'm not going to do that again."

He'd hurt her when he tried to help her sleep, misunderstanding her statement that she couldn't sleep. She had stated she couldn't sleep and he had taken it as her having massive insomnia. But in truth, it was this darkness of hers that made it so she couldn't sleep or else. Wording. It was a damn schutz.

She continued to question him and he just shook his head. "I don't know" He answered. "I told her to leave the CIS. She refused and did this spell instead. The only person who knows the answers to these questions is Scherezade."

[member="Alwine Lechner"]

 

[Alwine Daye]

Alwine sighed. The conversation was not going as well as she had hoped it would. Whether the Jedi was hiding information or simply did not have the information she was searching for, she had no way of telling. She was brand new to this entire investigation business thing ad she was coming to believe that she was not as great at it as she had thought she would be.

"Are you certain there is nothing you can do about it?" she asked him, her expression genuine, "could there be something she told you that you had somehow missed? Something that will let us know things really are going according to plan?"

His answer was probably going to be negative, but she had to try.

The Lupine glanced at the bag she had brought with her. She knew what lay in there. She had hoped, initially, that there would be enough mutual trust between her and the Jedi, at least for the sake of Scherezade's future, that she would be able to give it to him when the meeting was concluded. Now though, it appeared that… She would be taking the bag home with her. Back to danger.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He thought about it for a moment. There was one thing… Scherezade’s ship. With all of her horrible memories written all over the walls in her own blood. If he showed her that ship… Odds were her painful memoriee would return. Which was exactly why she wanted it locked away, to prevent that. But if she needed to be brought back…

He remembered the screaming then. When Maddy slept. She had terrified Jason. She had talked about Scherezade then. He remembered how much pain she was in…

No. That wasn’t an option. It would more likely destroy her than anything else. Josh would not let Maddy near that ship. To do so would be to betray both her and Scherezade entirely.

“No” He responded. He did make an honest attempt to recall something that might help, but… The only possible option would be no help at all. Which brought a frustrated frown to him. “I’m sorry” He spoke softly. “I know no more. Only what she has told me of the life she has crafted for herself as Madalena.”

The woman clearly wasn’t happy. He could see that. But what else could he do? He had given more than he was comfortable with sharing already. He had tried to help. But he just didn’t know much else. He was as clueless on the matter as she was.

 

[Alwine Daye]

No. There was nothing else he could or would give her. Alwine remained seated in her chair, saying nothing for the moment. She had not dared hope that it would be so simple, that all she'd have to do was show up, ask questions, received answers. Especially not after how she had introduced herself. But how else was she supposed to go about it, lie? That would've been even more disastrous, especially once her lie was discovered. No. Being honest about it was the only path she could take, though she wished she was better at using the truth.

"I understand," she said at last and rose, grabbing her bag with her. For the bag, she had hoped, but… But it was not to be. "I apologize for wasting your time, Master Jedi," she said sincerely before adding, "I know you have no reason to believe me or trust me, especially since you see my brother as the reason for what happened. But should Scherezade ever somehow contact you… Tell her that she is loved. That her brother is trying to get her back, that her uncle is trying to get her back, and that I have received her package and wish she had ever left at all. And... And that I would have been honored to have someone like her be part of my family. And I am certain there are more people who would want her back, though I have not found them yet."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

It was clear that the information he'd given was not enough for the woman, who had made it very much clear that this had been a waste of time to her. For him, it had not been a waste of time until she had declared it as such. He had given what information he could, and had withheld very little. If what he had given was a waste to her... Well, that was her problem.

"You didn't waste my time" He spoke calmly. She would ask him to give a message to Scherezade, should she ever return. He nodded his head in turn. "I will, thank you" He responded, taking a deep breath. Well, this had been an emotional rollercoaster for something that Alwine had dubbed nothing but a waste of time. The Jedi would rise from his seat then, offering to escort her back to the lobby.

"My apologies for having wasted yours."

[member="Alwine Lechner"]

 

[Alwine Daye]

"You did not," she said in what she hoped was an assuring manner, "I may not have had anything to give you in return, but perhaps when I return home and think deeper into things I will discover a few more pieces of the puzzle that make up the woman who would save my species despite having the only two people she knew of it betray her."

And perhaps… No. She would not let her mind wander to that direction.

"Farewell, Master Jedi."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"If you can find anything, keep me posted" He spoke calmly as he would escort her down. "Anyway that I can help Scherezade, I want to. By any means."

With that, he would bid her farewell.

"Safe travels."

[member="Alwine Lechner"]